Camila Vallejo

Chilean activist who led historic education reforms through massive student protests

Rise as a Leader

Camila Vallejo (born April 20, 1989) emerged as a key figure in Chile's 2011 student protests demanding free education and systemic reforms. As president of the University of Chile's student federation, she organized nationwide demonstrations that drew international attention. Her leadership style blended Marxist principles with digital activism, using social media effectively to mobilize youth.

Vallejo joined the Communist Party at 19 and became one of Chile's youngest members of parliament in 2014. She co-founded the Broad Front party and authored 'Educación para Todos: La Lucha de los Estudiantes Chilenos', a manifesto detailing her vision for educational equity. Her efforts are chronicled in the documentary 'Camila: La Lucha Continua'.

Despite political setbacks, she remains a symbol of youth empowerment. Her TEDx talk 'Youth Leadership in the Digital Age' emphasizes participatory democracy. Vallejo's influence extends to Latin America's #NiUnaMenos movement against gender violence. Read more on BBC profile.